Mrs. Merlin Welch of Manning Sees B-29 Serviced by Husband
Mrs. Merlin Welch received word Monday that the B-29 bomber, "Thumper," on which her husband Sgt. Welch, engine mechanic, had worked the past year on Saipan, helping to keep the plane in condition for missions, was to be on exhibit at the Martin, Nebraska B-29 plant Monday and Tuesday. Accompanied by Sgt. Welch's mother, Mrs. Ben Welch, and his sister, Mrs. Mac McCullough of Omaha, she saw the plane. The party also was conducted on a tour through the principal parts of the plant which makes this type of plane.

Air Force Crew Chief Visits Local Folks
Army Airforce Crew Chief and Mrs. Merlin Welch and two daughters of Spokane, Washington, arrived Tuesday to visit in the parental Grover Steen and Ben Welch homes. En route they had visited in Hastings, Nebraska, with Mr. and Mrs. McCullough and two daughters. Mrs. McCullough and daughters accompanied them to Manning and will visit her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Welch.
March 30, 1950, Manning Monitor

Many Courtesies Paid Couple Before Return To Service
Staff Sergeant and Mrs. Merlin Welch, Gwendolyn and Patricia, returned Tuesday to his station in Washington. They had been guests in the Grover Steen, Ben Welch and Robert Kruse homes for three weeks. On their return to Washington, they will stop to visit in the Roland Welch home at Lincoln, Nebraska, and with Mr. and Mrs. Mac McCullough at Hastings, Nebraska.
April 27, 1950, Manning Monitor

Manning Monitor article ------ 1943 Pfc. Merlin Welch Graduates Gulfport Field, Miss. Pfc. Merlin D. Welch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Welch of Manning, has been graduated from Gulfport Field, big Army Air Forces Technical Training Command School for airplane mechanics specialized in maintenance of cargo and transport type airplanes. During his stay at Gulfport Field, Pfc. Welch received a highly technical course of instruction covering 112 days of mechanical instruction. At the conclusion of his formal schooling, he spent 8 days in Gulfport Field's "Guadalcanal" Graduation Field Test Area, where he lived in a pup tent and put his knowledge to work under combat conditions. The area is nicknamed "Guadalcanal" because of its rugged set-up. Pfc. Welch was a aircraft worker in civilian life, employed by Boeing Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas. Manning Monitor article ------ 1945 Mrs. Merlin Welch received word Monday that the B-29 bomber, Thumper, on which her husband, Sgt. Merlin Welch, above, engine mechanic, had worked the past year on Saipan, helping keep the plane in condition for missions, was to be on exhibit at the Martin, Nebraska B-29 plant Monday and Tuesday. She was invited to inspect the plane and accompanied by Sgt. Welch's mother, Mrs. Ben Welch, and his sister, Mrs. Mac McCullough of Omaha, they saw the plane and were conducted on a tour of the plant where this type of plane is made. Sgt. Welch has named the engine which he services, "Betty" for his wife. He also has a daughter Gwendolyn, who makes her home in Manning with her mother. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Welch, also live here. Sgt. Welch entered the service March 15, 1943, and took training at Miami Beach, Fla., Gulfport, Miss., Ypsilanti, Mich., and Pratt, Kan., and left the states in July, 1944. According to Lt. Col, Robert E. Haynes, pilot of the plane, Thumper is the only one left of the planes participating in the first B-29 raid over Tokyo. On the side of the plane are 26 Japanese flags indicating the number of enemy planes shot down by the plane and also 40 bombs, the number of bombing missions to the credit of the plane.

Date of Birth July 8, 1921
Date of Death October 24, 1998
Place and Time of Services:
Memorial Service First United Methodist Church of New Port Richey, 11:30 AM
Gravesite Military Honors Ceremony Bay Pines National Cemetery, with burial in Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2:30 PM Wednesday, October 28, 1998
Services Conducted By Reverend Rusty Belcher First United Methodist Church of New Port Richey
Chaplain Warren Bridgeman United States Air Force
Arrangements By Morgan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Merlin Welch lived and enjoyed life to the fullest. He loved his God, people, the ocean, a good laugh, airplanes, traveling, bowling, and gardening. He served his country proudly and well through three wars. More than anything, he dearly loved his family as a faithful and giving husband, supportive and caring father, fun and affectionate grandfather, and gentle great-grandfather. Merlin was also a loyal brother and a good friend.

What an amazing example his life was. He showed us what love is.

Son of Bejamin and Abel (Dietz) Welch
Married to Betty Steen